Watch: Kelly Slater and Adam Scott Hit The Range
Not too often you'll see a golf video on Swellnet - in fact this might be the very first time. However, whether you're a golfer or not, it's worth a watch just to hear a relaxed KS speak about the biomechanics of the golf swing and how it relates to surfing.
More than just feel, he also relates how his two best years on tour - I'm assuming that's '96 and '97 - correspond with the years he was learning about golf. Specifically, how to hold his shoulders.
There are other nuggets to extract as the two banter on the green.
Comments
For all of his successes in life KS's body language when greeting AS was more than open, almost subservient and his old friend's hand shake brought him back up to be his equal.
Kelly has a nice, easy swing. I reckon he'd be no slouch on the course.
He's definitely no slouch.
Plays off scratch or pretty close to it.
Freak ...rekon he,d be good at anything he tried ..
I don't think it's possible to do with every endeavour, however for someone like KS, who's peered deep into surfing, I reckon it'd be possible to take guidance from many sports, whether it be the biomechanics, psychology, best diet, or whatever, and apply it to surfing.
Just need a mind that can see the connections.
it would be interesting to see Kelly apply his mindset and skills to climbing...
Watching this, I somehow feel like Kelly understands golf swings better than Adam scott
I lasted until about half way. And normally I’m pretty happy to listen to Kelly hold court on any topic. But even he can’t dull the indigestion and throbbing pain that a rich dollop of golf talk brings on.
My brother in law loves to play golf, practice golf, watch golf on TV, wear golf clothes, talk about golf, talk about golf equipment, talk about golfers, talk about golf swings, pull himself about how pretty Augusta National is etc.
One day I found myself in the car with him and a couple of other not so super keen about golf types. We were on the way to the driving range at his course - his ‘treat’, bless him, and the only type of golf that I can golf - when we found ourselves suddenly over-run and surrounded by a swarming carbon fibre and lycra posse.
Felt like one of those POV shots in movies, from the perspective of an unfortunate frontiersman, as he’s set upon by a marauding band of Sioux. Except they were riding Pinarellos instead of Palominos.
The characteristics of the area we were in means that on a nice day you can easily spot both species. The golfer and the MAMIL, that is.
The brother-in-law launches into a classical anti MAMIL diatribe (not approaching the lofty standards set by someone around these parts, but pretty good all the same). You can see that he’s most impressed with his own wit, mocking and ridiculing with great gusto. Sensing that he’s on a roll, and with equal enthusiasm for his subject, he then starts to regale his captive audience with the finer points of having a straight elbow in order to eek out some extra yardage with his new titanium flexifibre shaft jumbo driver - or something.
Some people really need to work on their self-awareness.
The old golf and the new golf. Plus ça change.
Gotta admit tho - and no surprise – that the GOAT’s got a sweet (technically sound, I'd venture to say) swing, even if I did prefer his original, younger-self conception of the game.
Does your brother-in-law drive a Golf?
He might be partial to Teutonic automobile production Zen - but one of the brands with a badge better suited to pulling the clubs out of the back in the golf club carpark.
And he’s a top fella - with many more interests and talents beyond the golf course. I just like to rag on golf because I’m really bad and really bad tempered at it.
“To find a man's true character, play golf with him.”
P. G. Wodehouse. Yep.
But I could just get golf lost in translation, because over your way, through the lens of Sophie C. and Bill M. - golf’s kinda sublime. And very zen.
Love that movie Roker and I think Sofia Coppola caught Japan (Tokyo at least) very well.
That course is Kawaguchiko and when my best mate makes it back here we plan to play it. He's a golf tragic too and I don't mind a round or two. Same trip we plan on doing Fujiku Highland Park which is close by.
My wifeys car is Teutonic and I usually take hers to golf cause I'm a wanker. My car owns the snow.
Btw, you really have a way with words. Do you write for a living? I wouldn't be surprised.
hahaha, I haven't watched it, zero interest in Golf, so I appreciate your summary even more Roker.
A bloke I know who surfs, who works with a bloke who knows a bloke who surfs and plays golf told a mate, who told the bloke who surfs that i know that they spotted KS at a golf course on the Mornington peninsula just before the Seth swell.
Not every tanned, bald bloke is Kelly Slater.
I think Kelly would be good at pretty much anything he put his mind too. Golf she’s the hardest of games. Most people do it wrong though. The right way, celebrate the very ocassional par without a scorecard and a shit load of beer. Fun will always ensue.
That was quite interesting. As someone like myself who plays off 12 or 13 Kelly is clearly good and you can see the work he has put in to get there
I had I smile on my dial the whole way through! I love the way Slater was reminiscing on his conversation with Curren about commitment.
I’ve always been in awe of great surfers ! especially Slater! And great Golfers as well . Golf is such a mental game even if you’re going for an arvo hack on the back nine with a couple of mates and a six pack.
Thanks SN !
I agree Nicko. He's very analytical, and his reminiscing of a Curren conversation, who was my favorite surfer growing up, is very inspiring. Good stuff.
'Almost got an albatross on the final hole'. I almost got a kangaroo with a wayward drive at Anglesea back in the day.
Golf, a good walk spoilt, someone said years ago. One thing worse than golf is golf talk. Then again us surfers are pretty zealous in our pursuits.
Golf courses, no good for us or the biological world. Flip them upside down and check leachate and exudate elements that have percolated down through the soil profile, nasty. Always wash your hands at the 9th before grabbing a pie from the kiosk before the back 9, some of the nastiest chemicals of all used to create that lush green carpet. The global carving up of land for golf courses is appalling. Everything about it is injurious to the, environment. Please, don’t tell me it’s beautiful nature on a golf course, it’s one of the most biodiverse bereft places known. GOLF puke, we all know the word if it’s spelt backwards.
That was great, both in their happy place and enjoying each others company
Great chat. Kelly referencing Mo Norman's swing - an eccentric and incredible talent few would have heard of outside the world of golf tragics...there's some classic lines in here from a Mo interview...
&ab_channel=24KSports - best ball striker of all time!could not give x2 fux about golf or celebrity surf A listers who flog - stick to surfing thanks